Tons of iPad Resources and more

My recent favorite collaboration and resource organization tool is LiveBinder.  If you've never heard of this site you should definitely check it out.  It makes organizing your resources, searching for resources, and sharing a breeze.  Just like you would with your Diigo or Delicious accounts you can install a "LiveBinder It" icon to your toolbar and add any page or resource you find and organize it into binders.

One of the most fabulous LiveBinders I have personally used to get iPad ideas and resources from is the iPads in School LiveBinder.  The Binder is very well organized and makes finding anything you need for iPads super easy.  Use the subtabs at the top to access specific category resources such as teachers, parents, administrators, etc. and then search within that tab for resources.  For example...if you go to the teachers subtab you will find resources for grading with the iPad and lesson plans, to name a few.  Remember this is an editable web 2.0 tool, so you can share and add to this LiveBinder any helpful resources you've come across and used. 
This would be a wonderful tool for your students to share resources.  If they were researching a topic for example they could organize all of their resources into one Binder where everyone can access it and write notes about it.
Happy searching!!!  I know you'll be hooked into creating your own Binders. 
As always let me know what you think and how you're using LiveBinders in your class.

Tech Bites for Thought

More Best of the Best.  Have you ever wondered how other teachers are using technology in their classrooms?  or What parents think about technology use in the classroom?  My classmates and I produced voicethreads on technology and literacy integration questions and asked some of our colleagues, friends and family members to post their opinions.  Check out the links below to view some of the voicethreads.  Oh and obviously the uses for this tool in the classroom are endless!  Comment on some trends that you see recurring throughout threads and what implications you see it having on the future of education.

MyVoiceThread
Caren'sVoiceThread
Elizabeth'sVoiceThread
Becky'sVoiceThread
Todd'sVoiceThread

Internet Based Literature Lessons

I have been taking summer classes (no rest for the weary, is right...as if having a 4 month old wasn't enough to keep me busy this summer) and just completed my final projects.  I have to say that one of my fav. classes and one that I feel I have gotten the most out of that I will use in my classroom is "Using Computers in the Classroom---Focus on Literacy and Technology Integration."  So many outstanding resources and new knowledge about technology use has been gained.  From virtual classrooms to  web 2.0 tools... I am a changed teacher!  I could do about 20 posts from this class, but don't have the time or energy right now for that so I'm compiling some lists/links for you to explore.  Here's a few of the BEST OF THE BEST...
Internet Based Literature Lesson Links created by yours truly and my classmates (organized by books/g.l.):

Pink and Say-3-5
Penguin Chick-3
Henry's Freedom Box-4/5
Mummies In the Morning- 4
Rosa-4
The Very Hungry Catepillar-k/1
Harriett Tubman (Civil War)-5
Snowflake Bentley-4
AncientEgypt-3rd
Punctuation Celebration-2/3

Finding Dulcinea: The Librarian of the Internet and so much more

There are a ton of websites out there that have been developed to help students and teachers with internet inquiry.  One such site is Finding Dulcinea.  Check out my Group Prezi that provides an overview of using finding Dulcinea in the classroom.
You may also be interested in checking out:
Thinkfinity
Webspiration

Enhancing the Writing Curriculum with Technology

With the emergence of new technologies the process of writing instruction and composition is beginning to take a new shape in the classroom.  Technology is enhancing the writing curriculum in many ways from making it more meaningful to more practical.  According to the article Writing Re-Launched: Teaching with Digital Tools "Outside of the classroom students most often encounter digital writing—that is, writing created or read on a computer or other Internet-connected device."  In the 21st century classroom it's becoming seemingly more important that students are composing through digital writing in the classroom as well.  Educators and research findings are finding that students are more motivated, collaborative and reflective when it comes to posting their writing for an audience to read through a technology tool.  Technology tools such as class blogs, wikis, email, google docs, and internet penpals spurs student engagement and creativity in ways conventional writing cannot.

Through the process of blogging students are encouraged to collaborate and share their ideas in a public forum.  Teachers can create a class blog where they can organize class information and facilitate class discussions and assignments; class news can be posted; project highlights are detailed; and students can respond to literature prompts.  Teachers can also use class blogs to aid in reading comprehension by having students collectively research an upcoming topic and post on the blog to build background knowledge.

The process of composing and teaching about writing digitally is much different than the traditional hand and pencil method.  The article Beginning to Write with Word Processing: Integrating Writing Process and Technology in a Primary Classroom highlights that students feel that composing through word processing is easier because it is less tedious, rereading occured more frequently when typing and that students tended not to use a web or prewriting strategy before composing.  Teachers have to adjust their teaching practices from the traditional to the digital style of writing as well.  Mini lessons may have to be shorter, a greater degree of interaction may be required and the pacing of the writing sessions may need to be grouped in shorter chunks to allow for students to take short breaks.  
Having students publish their writing on the internet is beneficial because it allows students to feel like their writing has purpose and is authentic.  A negative aspect of publishing writing via the web is that students could become desensitized to the fact that real people will have access to and read their published work.  

Hooking Reluctant Readers

Every year I have a few students that require a little creativity in order to hook them into the wonderful world of reading.  What better way than to use multimedia books.  I wish I had heard of these books sooner.  Check out the podcast with author Patrick Carman, where he describes what goes into creating a multimedia book and how reluctant readers are responding to them.
Check out his personal website for more details on his books.

Using Interactive Whiteboards in the Classroom

I have spent a great deal of time researching the effects that interactive whiteboards have on student learning and engagement.  I have been fortunate to be able to dedicate a great deal of my time and energy through my graduate assistantship researching and developing resources and content for teachers and pre-service teachers.  IWB's have been proven to enhance student motivation and engagement, in turn increasing test scores and achievement throughout the year.  I had a Promethean AcivBoard in my classroom for two years and can personally share that the board made a huge difference in my learners on many levels in all subjects.
Three things that are very important for teachers to take into consideration when using IWB's in their classroom are time, student use, and taking advantage of the capabilities that the software has to offer.  If teachers don't incorporate the IWB into their daily routines and instruction throughout the day the board will not reach it's potential benefits.  Teachers need to adopt a new pedagogy when incorporating the IWB into their teaching.  Simply using the board as a glorified whiteboard and projecting notes and instructions is not going to produce learning gains.  The software that goes with the boards, such as Smart Notebook and Activ Inspire, allows teachers to create content in flipcharts that are interactive and engaging for students.  It's important that teachers develop these flipcharts in ways that allow for the students themselves to interact with the board.  If the board is mainly used by the teacher as a means for presentation the students are not gaining the full benefits.  Centers are a great way for teachers to ensure that all students get time throughout the week to interact with the board and even create their own content to show their learning.

In the Reading Rockets article The Digital Whiteboard: A Tool in Early Literacy Instruction a primary teacher discusses how she uses the IWB in her classroom and the benefits her students gained from it.